Here in Raleigh, NC it seems to happen about 20% of the time. How about some estimates in other areas?

I have not been asked for it when travelling to New England. I hear California is bad. How bad?

In the San Joaquin Valley where I live it used to be almost 100% when I moved here a year ago from the NYC area. I've reported many businesses and now I would say it's about 20%. I know there are people who think it's a good idea to ask for ID but I don't like it. It's a hassle, it treats every customer with a presumption of guilt, it's against credit card policy, and more seriously it carries a larger risk of fraud from every single person showing their ID with personal information on it than the more limited incidence of people making unauthorized perchases on stolen credit cards. Which, though it may seem counterintuitive, is why THE CREDIT CARD COMPANIES DON'T ENCOURAGE IT!!!

They actually think about this stuff, you know.

Depending on what part of California you are in, it ranges from a non-event to horrible. Not so much of it around San Jose, CA yet go up by Oakland and it is very widespread. I spent a few days in San Francisco last year and was not asked for ID anywhere though. Sacramento, CA area seems to vary by neighborhood with some at all places wanting ID and some parts where nobody wants any ID. Redding was also a problematic spot as I was IDed nearly everywhere there including unusal places like a Starbucks. I have found it to be hit and miss down I-5 and Highway 99 in the central part of the state though there seems to be a pretty widespread instance of it in the Fresno-Bakersfield corridor.

A remarkable improvement. 20% left to go..

Make sure your community is violation-free.

CREDIT CARD SIGNATURE IS ALL THE ID NEEDED

When you pay for merchandise with a Visa card, MasterCard, or American Express any store that accepts these cards should accept yours too, no questions asked. It's part of the deal that merchants agree to when they become participating members.

They must check your signature and the card - electronically or by telephone - to be sure it's valid. Once the answer comes up yes, they can go ahead and charge. They can't ask you for any further identification - not a license plate number, Social Security number, proof of address, phone number or picture ID.

Your personal ID isn't needed because Visa, MasterCard, and American Express all guarantee payment on cards that have been properly checked. If the issuer mistakenly authorizes a sale on a bad card, it should make good. MasterCard says that merchants receive instant settlement.

Unfortunately, not all merchants play by the rules. Some, apparently, haven't read them.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

MasterCard wants to hear about merchants who break their rules. Send the name and address and an account of what happened to MasterCard International, c/o Radio City Station, P. O. Box 1288, New York, NY 10101. The merchant's bank will get a stiff letter, ordering it to investigate and bring the offending store into line - or pay a $2,000 fine.

Visa enforces the same rules as MasterCard. "When we hear about a violation, we ask the bank that signed the merchant to get together with the merchant and see that the practice is stopped," Visa representative states. To report a merchant, send a letter to the bank that issued your Visa card.

American Express also prohibits merchants from asking for IDs. "All a merchant is supposed to do is take an imprint, make sure the signature matches and swipe the card through the terminal, to get authorization."

What about other parts of the country?

In the DC Metro Area (MD, VA and DC), the major chains do not ask for ID, though some of the smaller Mom & Pops may still. I haven't been asked for ID in a major retail store for at least two years.

As I posted before, crafters who do crafts shows are the worst offenders. Even at crafts shows, though, they back off if you tell them you don't have your ID with them or ... my favorite line ... "I would prefer you not write anything on the receipt that is not requested; however, I'll be happy provide mailing list information in your guest book."

So far, no one has pushed this!

St. Paul Minnesota...

Target NEVER asks for ID. PERIOD! It's great! They have a store policy against it (duh?)

Most other places are pretty good. For the most part, I find that the biggest violaters to be small shops.

They actually have a written store policy saying cashiers cannot require ID? If so, that's great!


I never show ID... if asked I say my card is signed and make the merchant accept it without ID

Yes, it was a big deal when the did it....All over the news (about how they were crazy basically!) I actual prefer to shop there because I like knowing I won't even be bothered!

Asking for ID is against policy at a number of major retailers and this information is in their internal policy books.

Target
Kmart
Best Buy
Kohls
Wal Mart
Lowes

The problem is nobody at these stores (and few in middle management) bother to research it.

Wonderful! This should be a sticky. What are some medium-sized chains to add to the list?

I am glad you used the words internal policy. I have seen reports on here and other places that the store requested ID.

The fish boats at the DC waterfront used to regular ask for ID ONLY on AMEX card usage. Go figure.
The last time I was down there they didn't.

In the Atlanta, GA area:

My experience over the past year or so is that demands for ID have increased dramatically. I'd say for stores (even large chain stores like Target that supposedly have internal policies) the offender rate is close to 90 percent. For restaurants, it's much less common -- I don't think I've ever been asked for ID at a restaurant unless I was ordering alcoholic beverages.

All violating stores must be reported immediately. 1-800-VISA-911

Make sure your community is 100% violation-free.

Never show ID for signed credit cards purchases.

No ID required for signed credit card purchases. Merchants cannot require ID.

If a merchant tries to require ID, immediately call 1-800-VISA-911 to ensure they never do again.

VISA: 1-800-VISA-911
MasterCard: 1-800-300-3069


Also easily report merchant violations online at:

http://www.mastercard.com/us/personal/en/c...violations.html

Check the box that says "Merchant required ID"



Never show ID for signed credit card purchases ever.

No ID required for signed credit card purchases ever.

I corrected your post above.

I am not going to report every merchant especially the small business.

If Visa and MasterCard did give fines to small business owner, that would drive them out of business. I am not going to do that. Wal-mart can afford the fine, small business can not.

I did report one business and it did no good. They are still asking for ID.

If Visa and MasterCard did fine businesses. They would be forced to raise prices to cover the fine.

If you want prices raised complain, otherwise don't.

Do not misquote another member Webworm.

The correct quote is:

You not a moderator. I didnt misquote. I corrected you. I just do not agree with you. Yes, at first I did agree. Now, I do not. It is from reading Credit Boards and other website that change my mind.

It does no good to complain to the merchant or even Visa or Mastercard, you just get yourself in trouble.

They are plenty stories on here that people got arrested or thrown out of the store or had cops called on them.

MasterCard and Visa does not correct or follow up on complaints. The reason I know this. I complained to MasterCard and they did nothing. The signs are still up and they are still asking.

Another reason if for some reason MasterCard or Visa follows ups on complaints and fines the business. It would cause prices to be raised.

Myself, I do not have a problem with showing an id (Surcharge yes-but that another debate).

Myself showing ID would be better then not showing ID. People can find out your information anyways. Where I shop for groceries they know my name and I know theirs, which is kind of nice.

Wow, I'm surprized to find that you can edit another member's post to make it look like they said something that they didn't.

You may not agree with something someone said, webworm, but I don't think it's a good idea to misquote them, and insert your own editorial comments. That could get confusing, and plus you probably wouldn't want someone doing it to you.

That is incorrect. You can not edit another person post, but you can edit what you quote. For example if some goes on on and on. You just want to reply to a specific part. You can edit all of that. This prevent the whole quote from appearing. If want to know the truth I am getting ticked off at Continental by implying that you have to report all stores. No you do not have to report it. For example if I want to stress a word in your quote, I would put in bold. Continental should change the word from must to should be reported and remove the word immediately. Others have change continental in quote in follow-ups, that have disagreed with him. They did add in the quote changed by their nick. By the way it has been done to me.

Oh, OK. I didn't realy get that whole quoting thing anyway.

But to the original topic about showing a DL for using a credit card, I disagree with you that the CC companies don't follow up. They seem to because every place that I've reported has stopped doing it. Also, it seems like it's a waste of time since a store has no way to run a check on a DL.

Dude, that's not cool. Don't kid yourself that you "corrected" him. You didn't. You merely stated an opposing opinion, and since it was intended to be serious in nature, changing his words was out-of-line. The best way to "correct" him would have been to leave his words intact then add your point-of-view in your response.

I've seen some people do that in GF, but they usually strike out the original text and add their own, and it's clearly intended to be in humor. Huge difference.

And, no, neither am I a mod... merely stating my opinion.



My experience in filing complaints has quite often mirrored yours... they don't really care. In a debate that's good enough to stand on it's own.

Personally, I also see his hyperbole as being ridiculous, and have mocked him several times about it, but he has a strong opinion about the policies, and that's fine. "Should" or "must" is more semtantics. As long as he doesn't say anything that is factually misleading and incorrect, i.e. claiming ID checking is "illegal", all is good.

Somewhat
Continental comment serious in nature, I think that is matter of opinion.

In the Credit Forum and few other forums are serious but I really do not think the VISA MC policies forums are serious in nature.

http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?showforum=72

If you read it says this
Complaints, Discussions and rants regarding perceived merchant violation of the CCC policy.

I think you're arguing semantics again, but yeah, it could be worded better. That, or maybe it's their way of commenting on what they think of the subject.

Anyway, FTR, snipping is not generally considered altering a person's words, unless you purposely snip parts that leave the quote out-of-contaxt and that would give an impression other than that of what the author intended.

Every merchant I've reported no longer asks for ID either. It's made a big difference!

Make sure your community is 100% violation-free.

Never show ID for signed credit cards purchases.

No ID required for signed credit card purchases.

I think we all enjoy making a difference in these merchants being properly informed by reporting them for wanting ID. Some of these cashiers and store managers seem to get really put off that they cannot ask for ID. These remind me of store employees who act as if when a customer presents a coupon that the value of the coupon is coming out of their own pocket (when more often than not it is paid for by the manufacturer -- not even the store).

My favorite was a cashier who I handed my card front side up and proceeded to look at the front of my card, and said to me:

Ms./Mr. Leader may I see some ID?

Though I felt like asking this person why they were addressing me by name and then asking me to "show my paper(s)" I simply complied with the request and then spoke with management at this facility later via telephone. Though I did not explicitly name this employee when I contacted the management, I was given a response along the lines of "it is not our policy to require ID and I will review this with all of my cashiers." That is good. I hate to get any specific employee in trouble. A retraining of the entire crew is much more effective, anyway.

Once you've been violated, the joy of being able to again shop freely at a previously violating store is indescribable.

This ID nonsense has thankfully been declining rapidly in recent years as more and more people become educated and return to basic common sense.

You really think so? I hope you're right but it seems to me that ID requests have been increasing. So many businesses see other businesses doing it and therefore assume that they can do it.

Really? It seems that here I almost never run into it anymore. I have reported a LOT of stores in the past year and I'm assuming that it's had an effect.
That doesn't mean in three months some new manager somewhere won't get the bright idea of what a fantastic thing it would be to try and prevent unauthorized credit card use by having every single person ID'd for every single transaction.

I tend to avoid going in stores anymore because I dread the conflict. That said, my wife was carded several times in the past week.

"I HAVE THE CREDIT CARD POLICY--WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE WHAT YOU AGREED TO"

Usually at that point they're (managers) are a bit stunned and then tell you that they were told to have that policy from higher up in the food chain. Nothing will change until you report them and then just maybe their processor will follow through. Just as an example, the Wachovia Center box office in Philly still has on their website that they require two forms of ID, this after at least 2 years and I have reported them twice!!!!!

2 IDS? What other forum of ID?

Who, or what, are you quoting?

To report, simply call 1-800-VISA-911, press zero twice, and ask to file an "incident report" regarding a merchant violation/merchant who required ID. Crooked merchants shape-up quickly to avoid suspension. Make sure your community is 100% violation-free.

…which is why education is crucial. This ID nonsense should be a long-extinct, non-issue today much like separate entrances, separate drinking fountains, etc.. Any violating merchant must be eliminated - 1-800-VISA-911.